Schertz renames park after dedicated volunteer

Published 5:31 pm, Tuesday, September 24, 2013

A Schertz city park has been renamed in the memory of a tireless volunteer who spent many hours working to beautify and improve it.

Northcliffe Park is being renamed Wendy Swan Memorial Park, in honor of the late resident who led the effort to raise funds and make improvements to the park. The Schertz City Council Sept. 3 approved the name change.

Swan, a retired Army lieutenant colonel who served for 23 years, died last year and was laid to rest in the Northern Wisconsin Veterans Cemetery, her native state.

Maria Scagliola of The Friends of Northern Schertz Parks, a non-profit organization that promotes the development of parks in Schertz, said Swan was a tireless worker and advocate for the park.

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“Naming the park after this distinguished veteran would reflect honorably on the city of Schertz,” Scagliola said. “Wendy Swan's dedication, hard work, and fundraising efforts were instrumental to the establishment and beautification of the Northcliffe Park.”

Scagliola said Swan raised $65,000 in funds and labor donations in order to make several upgrades to the park that now bears her name, including a pavilion with picnic tables, two Playscapes, a basketball court, a sprinkler system and a walking path.

Swan was one of the founders of The Friends of Northern Schertz Parks, which started in 2005.

“She was an amazing person with a real heart for what she was doing,” Fowler said. “I absolutely agree that this is an appropriate thing to do, is to name this park after her.”

Mayor Michael Carpenter said Swan help spark a renewed emphasis in city parks, in which the city has come from having no parks and advisory board several years ago to one that is now vibrant and active.